Securing Tomorrow's Jobs Through Industrial Efficiency

Being efficient means getting the most out of precious feedstock and raw materials. It also means producing energy that meets consumers' real needs. In Antwerp, where Total has a controlling interest in a refinery and two petrochemical plants, a solution had to be found to boost the overall competitiveness and industrial efficiency of the complex and save jobs. We are spending €1 billion on capital improvements and are committed to making energy better.

A strategy to harness synergies.The goal is to turn the three sites into a single integrated refining and petrochemical complex.

The new Optara units were transported on an “SPMT” (self-propelled modular transporter) over the road to the refinery.

The new OPTARA units arriving at the refinery. In total, four shipments arrived in Antwerp, with a total of 32 modules.

A stable workforce.The workforce employed at the Antwerp complex will be maintained at around 1,700 people.

Refining and petrochemical integration.Combining these two distinct activities also creates a common culture.

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A Guided Tour of Total in Antwerp

In May 2013, we announced an ambitious upgrade plan for our biggest refining and petrochemical complex in Europe. The work is taking place in the sprawling port district of Antwerp, Belgium.

More Diesel and Less Sulphur

The first goal is to adapt our production facilities to a changing market. Challenges include structurally declining demand for petroleum products and increasingly stringent environmental specifications for products. Regulations from European market demands less heavy fuel oil and more ultra low sulphur diesel and heating oil. By the end of 2016, new units will bring the Antwerp refinery in sync with underlying structural trends.

Synergies and Putting Off-Gas to Good Use

Our second goal is to improve the refinery complex's industrial performance and overall efficiency by developing synergies between the three sites. Going forward, the off-gas produced from oil refining, now used strictly as fuel in refinery furnaces, will be recovered and used as feedstock in petrochemical units. This change, which requires efficient processing of off-gas, will also shrink the complex's overall environmental footprint.

In 2017, the makeover of the Antwerp complex will be complete and it will be one of our most competitive facilities. But for Total, the commitment to making energy better goes beyond technical or business considerations. The 1,700 jobs that will be maintained and a more responsible use of resources are also yardsticks of industrial performance.